Terminal for electrical accessories



May 1. 1928.

J. E. GAFFNEY TERMINAL FOR ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES Filed Dec. 16. 1924 Patented May 1 1928.

PATENT OFFICE,

:o'nn aims Gurney, or mamas, ammo, nssrenoa r J13. rooms a Y LIMITED, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

mai man iron mcrmcu. accnssonmsi Application filed December 16,, 1824, 10. 758,178, and in Great Britalnlarch 28, 1824;

My invention is for; improvements in terminals for electrical accessories, and has for 1 its object the provision of. a terminal which at present often necessar will renderthe connection of a lead to a terminal instrument 1 more than is the case with terminalsat present in use. For example, in electrical switches which are mounted in terminal boxes, it is to remove the switch from the box in or or to connect the end of a lead to the switch, whereafter the easily efiected switch has tobe replaced in the box. This operation involves'a considerable amount of time and labour and the present invention aims at reducing the amount of time and labour necessary in effecting these operations- .1

The present invention consists of an electric terminal for use with an electrical accessory, wherein that portion of the accessory which is adapted to gri the electric lead may be attached to or etached from the portion which'is normally in rigid connection with the circuit of the accessory without disturbing the elements in the circuit of the accessory from their normal position. 1 p Again, the present invention consists in an electric switch so constructed that the portion which gri s the electric leads may e attached-to or etached from the switc without disturbing the switch contacts from their normal working position. v

Further, the present invention consists of a plug-and-socket terminalfor an electrical accessory, wherein the socket is adapted to be rigidly secured in position upon an electrical accessory, so as to be in electrical connection with the circuit thereof, and the plug is adapted to be removed from the socket to permit a lead to be readily connected thereto so as to be in electrical con-' nection with the accessory when is inserted in the said socket.

Again, the present invention comprises an electrical accessory wherein a tglug-and-soclc et terminal, such as set for ini the preceding paragraph, is employed.

e Pl s The invention is more particularly de scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fi re 1 illustrates in plan view a tumbler switc mounted in a terminal box, wherein the terminals connected with the stationa contactsof the switch comprises a plug-an be secured 6 of the switch 1.

arranged to extend into the said hole in transverse hole 12 hereinbfefore referred to.

socket terminal constructed according to the present inventiomand Figure 2 isa sectional elevation on the lineA-A of Figure 1-. A a

In the drawings, which illustrate oneembodiment of the invention, a tumbler switch 1 is mounted in a terminal box 2, into which, a pair of leads 3 are led. The tumbler switch 1 may be of any desired construction, and the incoming leads 3 are adapted to in plugs 4 adapted to frictionaL ly engage with a pair of sockets 5, each adapted tol be secured in electrical connection with one of the fixed contact springs The socket 5 comprises a hollow tube provided with a flange7 at one end thereof, and screw threadedon its ex ternal surface at the end remote from the flange 7. "he socket 5 is adapted to receive the fixed contact springsfi of the switch and to be inserted into a hole 9 in the insulatin base 8 of the switch, and thereafter c amped to the base with the contact springs 6- firmly held underneath the flange 7 by a nut 10 engaging with the screwthreaded end of the socket 5. Adapted to be inserted into the socketr 5 is the plug 4, one end of which com rises a bifurcated member 11, the limbs 0 which are ada ted to be pressed into the socket 5 and old firmly therein by the resiliency of the bifurcated limbs 11. At the end remote from the bifurcated limbs 11 there is provided a transverse hole 12 ada ted to receive one i of the leads 3 and a inding screw 13 is the direction of the longitudinal axis of the said plug, which screw is ilrlnhfied t b tightened up so as to clamp the lead 3 in the The head of a screw is mounted in an insulating cup 14, the sides of which extend upwardly beyond the head of the screw so as to prevent the cover 15 of the terminal box coming in contact with the head of the screw 13. The cover 15 is adapted to bear against the free end of the insulatin on 1 14 so that when the terminal box 2 is 0 use theplug 4 'is firmly held in the socketti and prevented from accidentally being removed therefrom. j it Thus it will be seen that when a switch is provided with a plug and socket terminal of the character hereinbefore mentioned, it

is not necessary to remove the switch from 110 the terminal box when connecting a lead thereto, as it is only necessary to remove the plug of the terminal from the socketthereof, and connect the lead to the said plu whereafter the same may be pressedinto t e socket and provide the necessary connection in a simple and eflicient manner, thereby elimi nating a considerable amount of time and labour.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In combination, a terminal box, switch mechanism mounted therein, a socket terminal fixedly positioning contacts for the switch mechanism, a plug terminal having an electrical lead detachably secured therein and adapted to make electrical connection with said socket terminal, and means comprising the terminal box cover for maintain-V ing said plug and socket terminals in positlon. p r

2. In a switch mechanism, a terminal box,

switch mechanism mounted therein, a socket terminal fixedly positioning contacts for the switchmechanism, a plug terminal having secured therein an electricallead detachably d sai socket terend adapted to contact wit 1,ees,111

minal, an insulatin device secured to the upper end or said piiig terminal, and adapted to be contacted with by the terminal box cover in order to maintain said terminals securely in position.- r

3. In a plug and socket electrical connection, the COmblDfltlOILWlth a box and a cover therefor, of a plug having a slot therein for imparting springiness to the lug, an open ing within the upper end ot the plug for receiving an electrical lead, another opening within the upper end screw-threaded to receive a securing means for detachably securing the electricalleadin place, an insulating device for insulating the upper end of theplug said device having an opening therein adapted to be juxtaposed with the screw-threaded opening for permitting Said insulating device tobe secured in position between the electrical lead securing. means and the plug and adapted to be contacted with'by said box cover in order to maintain the plug securel in position.

In witness w my hand.

JOHN ELLIS Gurney.-

ereof I have hereuntoset 

